Sep 30, 2025 • Last updated Sep 30, 2025 •
Flowers were laid on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the intersection of Oxford County Road 33 and Highway 59, where a collision a day earlier between a school bus and an unmarked Ontario Provincial Police vehicle resulted in the deaths of both drivers. (Calvi Leon/The )
An OPP officer ran through a stop sign at an intersection in Southwestern Ontario and collided with a school bus, causing it to roll over three times into a field and leading to the fatalities of both drivers involved, according to court documents.
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The documents presented as part of a settlement between the family of the late bus driver, David James Stewart, and the Ontario Provincial Police provide further insight into the crash that occurred on May 29, 2023, at Oxford Road 33 and Highway 59, located northwest of Woodstock.
Det.-Const. Steven Tourangeau, age 35, was on his first day with the organized crime unit of the Ontario Provincial Police while Stewart, aged 71, was starting his regular shift driving students to school in the Woodstock area.
Stewart was operating an empty bus for Lang Bus Lines and was heading north on Highway 59 when the incident happened. Tourangeau was traveling east on Oxford Road 33 in an unmarked police vehicle when he failed to stop at the sign and hit the bus. This caused it to roll over three times into a nearby field as stated in an affidavit from Stewart’s family lawyer.
“Steven’s inattention while driving caused the accident,” wrote lawyer Emily Woods from Lerners law firm.
The front end and passenger side of Tourangeau’s vehicle sustained extensive damage while Stewart’s bus came off its frame according to details from a collision report included in the documents.
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The location where this crash took place had seen previous accidents before. Residents had expressed concerns about safety there. Officials from Oxford County had previously mentioned plans for safety improvements including converting it into a four-way stop and reducing speed limits from 80 kilometers/hour to just 60 kilometers/hour. These changes were expected to be completed by late June.
The London police led the investigation but didn’t share specific details about which direction each vehicle was going or who might have been responsible for the crash.
Woods noted that she reviewed a detailed report created by OPP regarding this tragic event.
“I gave written notice to municipalities involved in maintaining this section of highway and have communicated with their insurers,” she stated in her affidavit. “Unfortunately, I do not believe there is a reasonable prospect of identifying liability on any other party as a result of this accident.”
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Tourangeau was a father of three living in Thorndale who previously worked within OPP’s Huron-Perth street crime unit before joining organized crime bureau members who typically wear plain clothes while driving unmarked vehicles. This bureau is made up of officers from various police forces across Ontario working together.
Stewart was also deeply family-oriented; he had four children along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He spent many years married to his wife for nearly half a century. Before retiring as an operator for buses after being trained as both motorcycle mechanic along with small-engine technician he dedicated himself entirely towards helping kids reach their destinations safely every day during work hours – something they’ll miss greatly now!
The documents state that Stewart’s family sought compensation under Family Law Act against both OPP department & estate belonging Tourangeau “for his negligence leading up towards David’s death which resulted subsequently loss care guidance companionship” adding:
“He supported each one being husband father grandfather figure overall patriarch family. They no longer benefit having him around,” document reveals
A proposed settlement amounting $53 ,457 got negotiated directly through insurer covering tourageaus coverage approved last week by Superior Court Justice Ian Leach.
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Deadly crash probe ongoing amid new details on school bus driver police officer
Mourned school bus driver lost life after fatal incident involving police car
Share this article across your social media networksSource link
